Samantha Hayes (born 25 April 1984) is a South African-born New Zealand journalist and newsreader, best known for co-anchoring Three's flagship news programme Newshub Live at 6pm.
Sam Hayes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hayes preparing to record at a vigil for the Christchurch mosque shootings, March 2019 | |
| Born | Samantha Hayes 25 April 1984 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | Newshub Live at 6pm |
Early life edit
Hayes was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to a New Zealand father and a South African mother.[1] The family relocated to Milton in Otago, New Zealand when she was six months old. She has a younger sister and an older brother.
She received her education at Tokomairiro High School.[2][3] She studied at the University of Otago and finished her degree, a Bachelor of Arts, Media & International Relations, at Victoria University of Wellington in 2007.
Hayes played representative netball for South Otago while at high school and competed in dressage, showjumping and eventing.
Career edit
Hayes has worked in the media industry as a broadcast journalist and news anchor in New Zealand since 2001.
Hayes first appeared at TV3 aged 17, gaining work experience. During her first week at the programme, she was sent to interview heavy metal band Megadeth and came back with an international scoop when lead singer Dave Mustaine revealed for the first time why he left his previous band Metallica, telling Hayes "I'd like to say I quit, but I got fired because I was a violent drunk".[1]
During her studies at Otago University, Hayes worked at the student radio station Radio One 91fm as an on air DJ, news editor and newsreader.[1] In 2005, Hayes relocated to New Zealand’s capital city Wellington to finish her Bachelor degree, where she hosted, produced and announced news on Radio Active 88.6FM, including the midday Sam 60 show and the arts and culture-focused Caffeine and Aspirin.[4]
Alongside broadcasting, Hayes worked as an event organiser for popular cultural events One Love music festival and Handle the Jandal music video competition. Hayes’ appearance in a media interview for the 2006 Handle the Jandal event on TV3’s Nightline brought her back into contact with news bosses at TV3, and she was offered a reporting role on Nightline soon after in September 2006.[4]
In 2007, Hayes was offered the full time presenting role on Nightline, for which she moved to Auckland to become New Zealand’s youngest-ever newsreader at that time, aged 23.[5]
She has since worked on the programmes Newshub Late, 3rd Degree, 3D which became 3D Investigates, Newsworthy, Nightline and Firstline.[6] She is currently the news anchor, alongside Mike McRoberts, at Newshub Live at 6pm. She commenced this role on 30 May 2016 after Hilary Barry's resignation.[7]
During her career at Three, Hayes was appointed the network’s Australia correspondent based in Sydney, and anchored Newshub special programmes, including the 2023 New Zealand General Election,[8] the 2016 and 2020 US Elections, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,[9] and ten days of live coverage from London after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 including a special programme on Her Majesty's funeral.[10]
She’s also reported for the flagship documentary series Newshub Investigates: Generation Covid investigating the long term impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns on babies and children, and for Paddy Gower Has Issues, investigating Gisborne’s deadly problem with forestry slash washing downstream and onto beaches.[11]
Hayes was one of the first reporters to cover the emergence of international music star Lorde when the latter was 16 years-old, and has reported from places as diverse as Antarctica (on three separate expeditions) and Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve during the Great Migration.[12]
Other media and public roles edit
In July 2018, Hayes won series 7 of the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars with her professional partner Aaron Gilmore.[13]
Personal life edit
Hayes has been a vegetarian since she was 11 years old for ethical reasons. She said: "I remember looking at new lambs on the farm and thinking I didn’t want to be responsible for them being killed".[14]
In December 2020, Hayes became engaged to Jeroen Blaauw, with whom she has two children born in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Hayes suffered pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy, leading to caesarean section.[15][16][17]
In November 2023, Hayes announced on Instagram that she and Blaauw had ended their relationship.[18]
References edit
- ^ a b c Farrier, David (23 March 2014). "Hayes goes from hunting deer to shooting the news". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Twelve Questions: Samantha Hayes". The New Zealand Herald. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ Mann, Britt (28 January 2018). "My Sunday: Samantha Hayes". Stuff. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ a b "45 years of Radioactive.FM". The Spinoff. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Introducing Our New Ambassador, Samantha Hayes". Riding for the Disabled NZ. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Samantha Hayes". Newshub. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Samantha Hayes announced as Newshub co-presenter with Mike McRoberts". Newshub. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Election 2023: Newshub's Decision 23 election coverage, live debate times and dates revealed". Newshub. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "The Official Spinoff TV-watching Guide to the Royal Wedding Day". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth II's funeral". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Paddy Gower Has Issues: Expert says log that killed 11 year-old on beach was freshly cut". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Samantha Hayes: My top 10 stories from 10 years at TV3". Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Dancing with the Stars winner Samantha Hayes 'never' expected to win". The New Zealand Herald. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Samantha Hayes". SAFE. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Newshub's Samantha Hayes pregnant with second baby". Stuff. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Samantha Hayes announces she is expecting her second child". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Henger, Karyn. "Samantha Hayes' Baby Marlow Joins Her On The News Desk And All We Can Say Is Awwww". Now To Love. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Jack, Amberleigh (4 November 2023). "Newshub's Samantha Hayes announces split from partner". Stuff. Retrieved 5 November 2023.